Online gaming is widely popular and gaining more user attention every day. Computer game industries have made considerable growth in terms of design and development, but the scarcity of hardware resources at player or client side is a major pitfall for the latest high-end multimedia games. Cloud gaming is one proposed solution, allowing the end-user to play games using a variety of platforms with less demanding hardware requirements. Emerging Technologies and Applications for Cloud-Based Gaming explores the opportunities for the gaming industry through the integration of cloud computing. Focusing on design methodologies, fundamental architectures, and the end-user experience, this publication is an essential reference source for IT specialists, game developers, researchers, and graduate-level students.

The global gaming market, due to numerous technological advancements in social media networking and live-streaming video, has exploded in recent years. However, this newly acquired popularity has left many industry professionals pondering a difficult enigma: How does this affect the professional world? Implications and Impacts of eSports on Business and Society: Emerging Research and Opportunities provides innovative research exploring the immersion of competitive electronic sports and applications within global marketing, business, and society. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as social networking, sponsorship branding, and risk management, this book is ideally designed for sports and entertainment practitioners, communications professionals, marketers, business consultants, researchers, professionals, and students seeking current research on potential business opportunities in the eSports industry.

EVOLVING NETWORKING TECHNOLOGIES This book discusses in a practical manner some of the critical security challenges facing the ever-evolving networking technologies of today. In an age of explosive worldwide growth of electronic data storage and communications, effective protection of information has become a critical requirement, especially when used in coordination with other tools for information security and cryptography in all of its applications, including data confidentiality, data integrity, and user authentication. While the importance of cryptographic technique, i.e., encryption, in protecting sensitive and critical information and resources cannot be overemphasized, an examination of the technical evolution within several industries reveals an approaching precipice of scientific change. The glacially paced but inevitable convergence of quantum mechanics, nanotechnology, computer science, and applied mathematics will revolutionize modern technology. The implications of such changes will be far-reaching, with one of its greatest impacts affecting information security and, more specifically, modern cryptography. The book takes the reader through these issues. As the security systems design becomes more and more complex to meet these challenges, a mistake that is committed most often by security specialists is not making a comprehensive analysis of the system to be secured before choosing which security mechanism to deploy. Often, the security mechanism chosen turns out to be either incompatible with, or inadequate for, handling the complexities of the system. In addition, the book also discusses three main points: Configuration management is a critical issue, and as networks are increasing in size, their configuration needs to be managed. Devices may conflict with each other in terms of configuration. Therefore, it becomes challenging for firewalls to be up-to-date according to network policies. Scalability of the network is another big challenge, it would be easier to address if the network stays the same, but the network is ever expanding with a constant increase in the number of devices devoted to the network. Vendor lock-in: Business decisions that are taken today are revolving around the assumptions and capabilities of the current vendor and environment scenario. Buying the best solutions from today’s vendors involves how to interoperate, integrate, and support multiple solutions. It may involve tearing out all of the longstanding kits without tearing down the entire network at the same time. Audience This book specifically appeals to industry practitioners, IT researchers, and students regarding network technological management.

Recent innovations have created significant developments in data storage and management. These new technologies now allow for greater security in databases and other applications. Decentralized Computing Using Blockchain Technologies and Smart Contracts: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a concise and informative source of academic research on the latest developments in block chain innovation and their application in contractual agreements. Highlighting pivotal discussions on topics such as cryptography, programming techniques, and decentralized computing, this book is an ideal publication for researchers, academics, professionals, students, and practitioners seeking content on utilizing block chains with smart contracts.

Technological tools have enhanced the available opportunities and activities in the realm of e-business. In organizations that support real-time business-critical operations, the proper use and maintenance of relevant technology is crucial. Maximizing Information System Availability Through Bayesian Belief Network Approaches: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a pivotal book that features the latest research perspectives on the implementation of effective information systems in business contexts. Highlighting relevant topics such as data security, investment viability, and operational risk management, this book is ideally designed for managers, professionals, academics, practitioners, and students interested in novel techniques for maintaining and measuring information system availability.

Data analysis forms the basis of many modes of research ranging from scientific discoveries to governmental findings. With the advent of machine intelligence and neural networks, extracting and modeling, approaching data has been unimpeachably altered. These changes, seemingly small, affect the way societies organize themselves, deliver services, or interact with each other. Predictive Analysis on Large Data for Actionable Knowledge: Emerging Research and Opportunities provides emerging information on extraction and prediction patterns in data mining along with knowledge discovery. While highlighting the current issues in data extraction, readers will learn new methodologies comprising of different algorithms that automate the multidimensional schema that remove the manual processes. This book is a vital resource for researchers, academics, and those seeking new information on data mining techniques and trends.

The Internet of Things has become a major influence on the development of new technologies and innovations. When combined with smart services, the end-user experience can be significantly enhanced. Novel Design and the Applications of Smart-M3 Platform in the Internet of Things: Emerging Research and Opportunities provides an innovative outlook on the development of open source technology for the creation of smart spaces and services. Including a range of relevant topics such as interoperability, system architecture, and information processing, this book is an ideal reference source for academics, researchers, graduate students, and practitioners interested in the latest advancements in the Internet of Things.

In recent years, digital technologies have become more ubiquitous and integrated into everyday life. While once reserved mostly for personal uses, video games and similar innovations are now implemented across a variety of fields. Transforming Gaming and Computer Simulation Technologies across Industries is a pivotal reference source for the latest research on emerging simulation technologies and gaming innovations to enhance industry performance and dependency. Featuring extensive coverage across a range of relevant perspectives and topics, such as user research, player identification, and multi-user virtual environments, this book is ideally designed for engineers, professionals, practitioners, upper-level students, and academics seeking current research on gaming and computer simulation technologies across different industries.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 6th International Conference on E-learning and Games, Edutainment 2011, held in Taipeh, Taiwan, in September 2011. The 42 full papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 130 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on: augemented and mixed reality in education; effectiveness of virtual reality for education; ubiquituous games and ubiquitous technology & learning; future classroom; e-reader and multi-touch; learning performance and achievement; learning by playing; game design and development; game-based learning/training; interactions in games; digital museum and technology, and behavior in games; educational robots and toys; e-learning platforms and tools; game engine/rendering/animations; game-assisted language learning; learning with robots and robotics education; e-portfolio and ICT-enhanced learning; game-based testing and assessment; trend, development and learning process of educational mini games; VR and edutainment.

The development of mobile technology has experienced exponential growth in recent years. Mobile devices are ubiquitous in modern society, impacting both our personal and professional lives. Mobile Application Development, Usability, and Security provides a thorough overview on the different facets of mobile technology management and its integration into modern society. Highlighting issues related to analytics, cloud computing, and different types of application development, this book is a pivotal reference source for professionals, researchers, upper-level students, and practitioners actively involved in the area of mobile computing.